Police find trove of stolen property

2 Waukegan men charged with theft

December 29, 2006|By Dave Wischnowsky, Tribune staff reporter

The Lake County Sheriff's Department is searching for the owners of nearly $100,000 in stolen property--including landscaping equipment, a motorcycle and power tools--recovered this month at homes in Waukegan and Beach Park.

On Dec. 14 authorities executed simultaneous search warrants at residences in the 12300 block of Southview Street near Waukegan and the 12700 block of Graves Avenue in Beach Park, officials said.

The investigation, which was sparked by a tip in early December, has led to the arrest of two Waukegan men, Ronald A. Coulombe, 55, of the 2100 block of Hawthorne Lane, and Jose Luis Fuentes, 36, of the Southview Avenue address.

Both men, who allegedly were working together, have been charged with theft over $300, a felony. If convicted, they could get 2 to 5 years in prison.

Fuentes posted bail and was released on Dec. 20, but Coulombe is still in Lake County Jail, officials said.

The sheriff's department is still looking for others involved in the thefts.

"We are certain that as a result of these search warrants, more arrests will be forthcoming," said Sheriff Mark Curran.

On Wednesday, sheriff's officials met with representatives from other law enforcement agencies in Lake and Cook Counties to examine the stolen property so it can be returned to the owners.

Lindenhurst police were able to identify some items and are tracking down the people they were stolen from, Thompson said.

To provide information on what was stolen, a Web site, www.co.lake.il.us/sheriff/recovery/, will be online beginning Tuesday, with an itemized list of recovered property.